Mistrust, tension continue between police, Indigenous people 30 years post-Aboriginal Justice Inquiry – CBC

Nov 30, 2021

Community members say a shooting like J.J. Harper could ‘100% happen today’

A provincial inquiry report released 30 years ago painted a grim picture of the relationship between police and Indigenous people filled with mistrust, tension and racism. Today, critics say the relationship is still broken.

“The police don’t trust what Indigenous people are saying, and Indigenous people don’t trust what police are saying,” said Michael Redhead Champagne, co-chair of the Police Accountability Coalition.

The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (AJI) was launched in 1988 to determine, in part, whether racism played a role in the police shooting of Indigenous leader John Joseph (J.J.) Harper.

In March 1988, Harper was walking home in Winnipeg when he was shot and killed by police.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/aboriginal-justice-inquiry-policing-1.6264154